Study in Latvia. 7 best institutions in Latvia

Today, education in Latvia can be obtained in Latvian or English. SMAPSE catalogue provides options that offer both state and international programs. The latter allow you to choose the language of studying, but a number of subjects will have to be studied in Latvian (according to the requirements of the Ministry of Education of Latvia).

Foreign students can take courses in English in private secondary schools, colleges and universities. Education in Latvia is available in English in language schools too, general and specialized courses are offered. The first will suit those wishing to learn language for personal purposes (for communication in everyday life). The second SMAPSE experts recommend to those who wish to be studied in educational institutions at the appropriate courses. Also, specialized programs are aimed at professionals, for example, teachers.

Thanks to the full catalogue TOP-7 schools, colleges and universities in Latvia, you will definitely make the right choice.

SMAPSE has a convenient tool to find the right educational institution and program. The search block in the left panel of the catalogue lets you sort institutions by the type of program and the language of instruction at once, and also filter by the type of institution.

Did not find a suitable school, institution or program in the catalogue? SMAPSE specialists can select one for you individually. You can put your questions to SMAPSE experts by e-mail, telephone, Viber or WhatsApp.

Online consultations are also available for those planning their studies in Latvia. Choosing a program together with a specialist in online chat saves time and gives answers to current questions about organizing the trip, paying for the course, preparing the necessary documents and so on.

Studying in Latvia is a solid step towards a future career. SMAPSE will help you choose a direction, an educational institution and a program that best matches your needs.

Citizens of non-EU visa-free countries can enter Latvia and stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Anyone planning to study longer than 90 days must apply for a residence permit. Full-time students enrolled at an institution listed in the Register of Education Institutions are eligible to apply on the basis of their student status, and obtaining a visa or residence permit may take up to several weeks, so it is worth starting the process in advance. 

While studying, students may also work. A full-time bachelor's student has the right to work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and up to 40 hours per week during holidays with any employer. Full-time master's and doctoral students may work with no hourly restrictions. 

From 1 September 2025, under the amendments to Article 4.4 of the Immigration Law, third-country nationals who do not hold a Latvian visa or residence permit must submit an electronic declaration about themselves and the purpose of their trip at eta.gov.lv before entering the country. The declaration must be filed at least 48 hours before arrival, including transit. An automatic email notification follows 48 hours after submission, with no need to wait for a separate permit. Citizens of the EU, NATO, OECD, EEA member states, Switzerland and Brazil without a Latvian visa or residence permit, as well as holders of a valid Latvian visa or residence permit, are exempt from this requirement. 

The cost of studying in Latvia depends on the level, the direction of study and the institution. Across degree programs the range runs from less than €1,600 per year for some bachelor's programs (3–4 years) up to €15,000 per year for Dentistry (5 years) and around €25,600 for an Executive MBA. The average annual tuition fee falls between €2,800 and €15,000, with medical and executive business programs reaching the upper end.

Typical annual fees by popular direction of study are:

• Health Care & Medicine — €8,000–15,000
• Business Administration & Management — €2,000–6,000
• Engineering — €2,700–3,500
• Computer Science — €1,800–3,800

Applicants should also budget for a non-refundable application fee of about €150 (≈$200), which varies by university. Some Latvian higher education institutions charge no application fee at all.

In 2024 international students made up 16% of all students in Latvia, accounting for around 11 542 people. By level of study they are divided into bachelor's programs — 4 760 students (41%), master's programs — 6 279 (54%), doctoral programs — 305 (3%) and colleges — 198 (2%).

The leading countries of origin in 2024 were India with 27% (3 158 students), Uzbekistan 10% (1 118), Sweden 8% (976), Ukraine 8% (895), Germany 6% (748), Sri Lanka 6% (697), Finland 5% (536), Russia 4% (451), Turkey 3% (362) and Norway 3% (311).

These students choose from 29 higher education institutions (16 state and 11 private, plus 2 more private establishments) and 24 colleges (16 state and 8 private) operating across the country.